Title: Investigate how wind speed and direction affect wind turbine power output.
Course: Sustainability and Renewable Technologies (21053) > Section: Examining Renewable Energy

Investigation should include determining how wind speed and direction influence the amount of power produced by a wind turbine.

Teacher Resources:

- 3M Wind Energy Virtual Lab, (https://www.youngscientistlab.com/sites/default/files/interactives/wind-energy/)
- Whitebox Learning, (https://www.whiteboxlearning.com/)

Process/Skill Questions:

- Why or why not would your school provide a good location for a wind turbine?
- What might affect the amount of power generated, other than wind velocity?
- How is wind direction a factor in designing wind turbines?
- What are some tradeoffs to consider when determining the number of blades to be used?
- How do a variety of wind speeds affect the energy output of a wind turbine?
- How do a variety of wind directions affect the energy output of a wind turbine?
- When is there a desirable combination of wind speed and direction that optimize the ability of a wind turbine system to produce power?